What a Night for Ahavath Achim
Four multi-talented cantors performed as a quartet and individually in an unforgettable night of Jewish soul a la rock and roll.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Around 360 folks lined up from the main sanctuary to the balcony for the one-night production of “Clergy Boys: Oh What a Night,” at Ahavath Achim Synagogue on Feb. 13. They left with the spiritual and utterly dynamic uplift one would experience exiting a Broadway show.
In this case, it was the euphoria of five Broadway shows: the harmony of four of America’s most renown cantors performing as a group in red jackets a la Four Seasons/Jersey Boys, then each individually rolling out their own musical and family journey. Cantors David Propis, Randy Herman, Mike Stein, and Steven Stoer fiddled, emoted, and charmed, from one to the other as the show progressed.
Ahavath Achim president Dr. Mark Stern welcomed the crowd before introducing event chairs Dorita Arnold and Ava Landrum Smith. Longtime sponsor of the arts, Marilyn Eckstein, was honorary chair.
Smith praised the staff for casting and production and Ahavath Achim executive director Barry Herman (a talented tenor in his own right) for his “South African flair and musicality,” complimenting him for never “dropping his baton.”
Arnold introduced Ahavath Achim Senior Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal for his holding music as “a vital tool for expressing faith as part of the synagogue’s tradition.”
Rosenthal then spoke of the different melodies – musaf, the Torah, even the Book of Esther which are “easily recognizable.
Local Parisienne, Ahavath Achim member, and child therapist Dr. Auriele Weinstein was the expressive narrative glue that held the “mélanged megilah” together. In between songs, she wove Jewish tales to modified Four Seasons lyrics. She traversed through the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, Moses in a basket, Creation, Shabbas, and Abraham and Sarah. One of her best lines was quoting Tom Hanks’ line in “League of Their Own,” to a despondent Eve, “There’s no crying in the Garden of Eden,” which led into the group singing, “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”
She likened the famous Eve’s apple to wise Jews investing in Apple stock.
Each cantor, “falsettos of faith and fun,” appeared individually with an explanation of their own biography. While each was unique, they held one common theme – immense talent.
First up was Steve Stohler, who has served more than three decades at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, Ill., and president of the International Cantor’s Assembly, shared his father’s singing Yiddish songs, and played his crackling, emotional vinyl record. He found his own confidence playing “Muttel” in “Fiddler on the Roof” despite school struggles with ADHD.
Next was Randy Herman, who just accepted a position at Har Zion outside of Philly, after posts in New York and Baltimore. He could have been from Planet Mars and not charmed the audience anymore. Totally bathed in stage presence and charisma, he took his seat at the piano and “out Billy Joel-ed” in “Piano Man.” He then related the commingling soulful singing of Black 1930s music (Cab Calloway) alongside a record of traditional Cantor Yosela Rosenblatt. He peppered dialogue, “Go Eagles,” with audience participation of “Minnie the Moocher.” He was show stopping.
Cantor No. 3, David Propis, with roots in the famous Greater Detroit shul, Shaarey Zedek, was a hometown link, as he is married to former Ahavath Achim member Karen Siegal. He showed his video performing in front of “100 angels” in a Holocaust Remembrance Choir alongside his own daughter. He projected a photo of his father (who also had a good set of pipes) as a Hagana soldier. He emphasized that he hopes to soon stop saying, “Bring the hostages home!”
The last segment was pony tailed cantor Mike Stein, who performed in the original production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and said, “Don’t worry, I was Peter who denied Christ.” Sharing his relationship to the famed Broadway composer Jule Styne, Stein performed for four U.S. presidents with the U.S. Navy Band and was nominated for a Grammy. He also appeared on “The Voice,” and recreated his fiddling version of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
The orchestra pit was in perfect form and volume, featuring Andy Margolis on drums, Cliff Monear on piano, and Todd Prusin on guitar. Ahavath Achim can count this Erev Valentine’s Day as among its most joyous nights, clergy et al.
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